William Neilson
Encyclopedia
William Neilson, was a Canadian businessman and founder of William Neilson Limited. He was born in the Ramsey township, Lanark County, Ontario
.
His working life began as a farmer in Rochester
, New York
, then moved on to being a machinist's apprentice in Almonte, Ontario. In 1873 journeyman Neilson worked in Brockville, Ontario, moving on in 1889 to retail store. Afterward he sold his store in 1890 and moved to Toronto
and began a grocery store that eventually failed. Leaving his family behind, he moved to North Dakota
to work as a farmer with his brother Jessie.
Returning to Toronto, still in debt, he purchased some cows and began the sale of milk. Neilson then obtained ice-cream manufacturing equipment. In 1893 the firm, William Neilson Limited, was started. Ice-cream and mincemeat
were the first products, and these fueled the growth of the company.
Expansion and modernization started in 1904 with a new location and the addition of new equipment. By 1905 production was at two thousand gallons of ice-cream per day, and mincemeat production was discontinued. Chocolate
was added to the product mix in 1908. This required further expansion and a new building was added, and by 1915 a new site was required and the production moved to Beachville, Ontario.
By 1928, the company employed a thousand people in all departments and production was at one thousand gallons of ice-cream per hour, and the company opened branches in South America, South Africa, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.
Neilson married Mary Eva Kaiser on October 6, 1875 in Brockville, Ontario. They were the parents of five children, of which the sons continued the business after the death of their father in 1915. Fred Harry Morden Neilson, the family's official churner, ran the business as President until his death in 1947. Charles Edward Neilson was secretary-treasurer and James William Allen Neilson was a vice-president.
The Neilson family are buried at Forest Lawn Mausoleum in north Toronto
.
William Neilson Limited, now headquartered in Georgetown, Ontario
, was held by George Weston Limited
from 1947 to 2008 and now held by Saputo Incorporated
.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
His working life began as a farmer in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, then moved on to being a machinist's apprentice in Almonte, Ontario. In 1873 journeyman Neilson worked in Brockville, Ontario, moving on in 1889 to retail store. Afterward he sold his store in 1890 and moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and began a grocery store that eventually failed. Leaving his family behind, he moved to North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
to work as a farmer with his brother Jessie.
Returning to Toronto, still in debt, he purchased some cows and began the sale of milk. Neilson then obtained ice-cream manufacturing equipment. In 1893 the firm, William Neilson Limited, was started. Ice-cream and mincemeat
Mincemeat
Mincemeat is a mixture of chopped dried fruit, distilled spirits and spices, and sometimes beef suet, beef, or venison. Originally, mincemeat always contained meat. Many modern recipes contain beef suet, though vegetable shortening is sometimes used in its place...
were the first products, and these fueled the growth of the company.
Expansion and modernization started in 1904 with a new location and the addition of new equipment. By 1905 production was at two thousand gallons of ice-cream per day, and mincemeat production was discontinued. Chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
was added to the product mix in 1908. This required further expansion and a new building was added, and by 1915 a new site was required and the production moved to Beachville, Ontario.
By 1928, the company employed a thousand people in all departments and production was at one thousand gallons of ice-cream per hour, and the company opened branches in South America, South Africa, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.
Neilson married Mary Eva Kaiser on October 6, 1875 in Brockville, Ontario. They were the parents of five children, of which the sons continued the business after the death of their father in 1915. Fred Harry Morden Neilson, the family's official churner, ran the business as President until his death in 1947. Charles Edward Neilson was secretary-treasurer and James William Allen Neilson was a vice-president.
The Neilson family are buried at Forest Lawn Mausoleum in north Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
William Neilson Limited, now headquartered in Georgetown, Ontario
Georgetown, Ontario
Georgetown is a community in the town of Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Regional Municipality of Halton. It is situated on the Credit River, located approximately 60 km west of Toronto making it part of the Greater Toronto Area...
, was held by George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited , often referred to as Weston or Weston's, is Canada's largest food processing and distribution company. Founded by George Weston in 1882, the company today consists of Weston Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary, and Loblaw Companies Limited, the country's largest supermarket...
from 1947 to 2008 and now held by Saputo Incorporated
Saputo Incorporated
Saputo Inc. is a Montreal-based Canadian dairy company. Founded as a cheese store in 1954 by Italian immigrant Giuseppe Saputo, today Saputo’s business includes cheese, baked goods and milk production, and it is the world's twelfth largest dairy producing company...
.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- Neilson Dairy at www.neilsondairy.com